Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,835, Josiah Flagg, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Flagg, Josiah
S 15835
CONTENTS
Carded

Vermont 17271 Emiah Filag of Orange Co in the State of Vermont who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Inf y commanded by Col d Whitney in the Mass s na- tional line for 13 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont. at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Aug t . 1833 and sent to J. K. Parish Randolph
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $86.66 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept r — 21.66 $208.32
Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. } Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 3 Page 44
Oct 11, 1835

5157
Josiah L. Lagg
13 mos
49.73
✓
J. K. Parish Randolph Ut

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 9 - 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Josiah Flagg
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1776 - 2 - private Col. Dimey, Col. A. Tyler 79, Afton, Mass.   1776.1777 - 3 - - Col. Whitney & Carter Afton   1777 - 4 - - Col. Gushing - - -   1778 - 1 - - Col. Wade - - -   1778 - 3 - - Thinks Col. Wade Commanded - - -   1 1 -  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr. Josiah Flagg

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this                      day of                      personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of                      in the county of                      and State, Territory or District of                      aged (c)                      years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)                      , with                      and served in the                      (e) regiment of the                      line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.  This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I,                      of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                      for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of                      &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the                      and C. D. residing in (the same)                      , who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with                      , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the                      and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the                      and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,                      Clerk of the Court of                      do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this                      day of                      &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Applicant should state, if possible, whether there are Survivors of his Service — It does not appear that he has made any election to prove his service

Josiah Flagg
L 6 No 5157.

State of Vermont, At Brookfield  6 Sept. 2 in said County on this 31 st day of July District of Randolph  ORANGE COUNTY ss. A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. the Probate Court for said District
in the said Orange County, now sitting, being a Court of Record Josiah Flagg a resident of Brookfield aforesaid in the County of Orange and State of Vermont, aged 78 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he served in the Mass. line for about thirteen months under five different enlistments in 1776. That he served in the Mass. line for about thirteen months under five different enlistments in 1776. About the 1 st of Sept. he enlisted at Upton Mass. under Capt. Benja. Faxon, Lt. Green, & Ens. Boardman under Col. Doyen and served 2 months in the vicinity of White Plains N.Y. Then enlisted about the 20 th Nov. the same year under Capt. Nelson, Col. Whitney & Carter and was ordered to New Jersey near Brunswick and served for the term of three months and left the Army at Middlebrook N.J. — In August 1777 again enlisted at said Upton under Capt. Penniman in Col. Cushing's Regt. and was ordered to Pownington Vt. and remained in that vicinity some time & then marched to Stillwater N.Y. just previous to the taking of Burgoyne and served four months and was discharged at a Hospital on the N. River. In July 1778 he served a tour of one month and marched to Providence R.I. under Capt. Segraves under Col. Wade's Regt. — Also about the 1 st of Oct. 1778 again enlisted under Capt. Lamb and thinks in Col. Wade's Regt. and marched to R.I. and was stationed at Greenwich & Warwick the most of the time, and served three months. He states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever, to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Josiah Flagg
Frederick Griswold Judge of Probate
We Daniel Wild — — — — — residing in Brookfield in said County of Orange and Luther Wheatley Esq te residing in the said Brookfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Josiah Flagg who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, and that we believe him to be 78 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Daniel Wild Luther Wheatley
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Frederick Griswold Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Daniel Wild — who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in Brookfield in said County, and that Luther Wheatley Esq te who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same place, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. H. Parish Clerk of the Court of Probate for the Dist. & County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Josiah Flagg for a pension. In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 31 st day of July — A. D. 1832.
J. H. Parish CLERK. on Reg ts

Josiah Flagg L 6 ch 5157.
State of Vermont District of Randolph p. 3 On this 12 th day of June A D 1833 - Personally appeared in open court before the Hon. the Probate Court now sitting at Brookfield in Orange County Josiah Flagg of S d Brookfield who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following second declaration in addition to his declaration made on the 31 st day of July A D 1832 in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832. He states that his declaration made on the 31 st day of July last relative to the different tours of service are to the best of his memory & belief correct that he served in the five different campaigns not less than thirteen months and at the period he states that he never was in any general engagement, but in frequent skirmishes with the enemy especially in his 2 d tour while in New Jersey. He states that he is unable to prove his services not knowing where any of his old comrades, since it is living, but thinks he might possibly find some in Upton Mass. where he resided when he entered the service the distance is 200 miles & he has not been there for more than 40 years & that his health & poverty would almost prevent the journey for any consideration. He states in answer to the questions proposed - 1 st  born in Upton Mass. in 1754 - has no record of his age but believes it is recorded in said Upton T. Clks Office - was living in S d Upton each time of entering the service, has lived in Wilmington & Brookfield Vt. where he now lives since the year 1780 - he was drafted his first tour of 2 mos. & volunteered each of the other tours. He states the same names of officers as in body of his declaration, could name Genl. Warner at the Jersey, & thinks Genl. Lincoln, never rec d a written discharge excepting in 1777 in his four months tour, when he left the Hospital, but cannot state by whom it was given, but is now unable to account for it and has not seen it probably for 40 years. He refers to persons in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity to Hon. Frederick Griswold, Amasa Edson, Doct. Walter Burnham, Deacon Elisha Allen, Maj. John Wheatley &c.
Josiah Flagg
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid - Calvin Blodgett Judge
I William Hubbard Clerk or Register of the Probate Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Josiah Flagg this day made for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12 th day of June A D 1833 W m Hubbard Clerk or Register

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section AWF/esl
June 7, 1929
Honorable J.H. Sinclair House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Sinclair:
In response to your letter of May 31, 1929, and letter of Mrs. M.L. Ayers, of Dickinson, North Dakota, which have been transmitted to this bureau by the War Department, I have the honor to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.15835, it appears that Josiah Flagg was born in 1754, at Upton, Massachusetts.
While residing at said Upton, he enlisted and served with the Massachusetts Troops as follows:
From September 1, 1776, two months in Captain Benjamin Farrar's Company, Colonel Denny's Regiment; from November 20, 1776, three months in Captain Nelson's Company under Colonels Whitney and Carter; from August, 1777, four months in Captain Penniman's Company in Colonel Cushing's Regiment; from in July, 1778, one month in Captain Seagraves' Company, Colonel Wade's Regiment; from
The rest of this letter on Richard Lyman W 24616

October 1, 1778, three months in Captain Lamb's Company, Colonel Wade's Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 31, 1832, at which time he was living in Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont.
It is not stated whether soldier was ever married. *** * *

15.835 INVALID.
File No. 15.835
Joseph Hagg Pre Civil War
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 128
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1929. June 7- Hon. B. H. Hon. J. H. Sim said Air Mrs. M. S. Geyers. See letter in Richard Lyman M. 24616 Gey.